NDLEA issues warning on new stimulant, arrest suspects

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has arrested 4,838 suspected drug traffickers and impounded drugs with a street value of N5bn.

The agency, in a statement on Thursday, said the arrest and seizure were made between January, 2016, and June, 2016, adding that drug barons had started smuggling a new stimulant shrub, called khat, into the country.

According to the statement by the NDLEA Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the suspects comprised 4,490 males and 348 females while drugs weighing 108,883.5kg were seized within the period.

 

“These drugs included cannabis, 74,942.47kg; psychotropic substances, 33,425.38kg, ephedrine, 201.12kg; methamphetamine, 179.74kg, cocaine 54.05kg, heroin, 15.11kg and Amphetamine, 0.0138 grammes.

“The drugs are worth N5bn in Nigeria but could be five times higher in Europe and Asia,” the statement added.

It quoted the NDLEA Chairman, Muhammad Abdullah, as pledging to tackle drug trafficking syndicates over the introduction of the new drug, khat, into the country.

Abdullah, who promised increased war against drug trafficking, said "drug trafficking cartels are gradually introducing a new stimulant drug into the country but we are prepared to stop them. In the first half of the year 2016, the Agency successfully seized 65.7kg of Khat. 

We are taking counter narcotic measures calculated at frustrating the activities of drug trafficking organisations. Officers at all border points, airports and seaports are being sensitised on new trends.

 In addition, operatives at the Special Investigation Assignment Unit are also working very hard to prevent the use of courier companies in smuggling Khat and other narcotics into the country"

According the statement, Khat is a stimulant flowering shrub growing mainly in the native of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The plant which is known as Catha edulis contains two alkaloids, namely cathinone and cathine that act as stimulants.

When Khat leave is chewed like tobacco, it produces a mild euphoria similar to cocaine and amphetamine.

He called on members of the public to be aware of the drug, saying 65.7kg of khat had been seized between January and June.